Established in 2020, the Social Justice Project’s mission is simple: to advance the firm’s far-reaching initiatives to dismantle structural racism and combat the impact of racial injustice in our communities. The Social Justice Project’s work builds on our longstanding diversity and inclusion work, our tradition of public service, and our enduring commitment to improving the communities in which we live and work.
Advancing the cause of social justice requires each of us to take affirmative steps to better understand the depth and consequences of racial inequality, and to play an active role in eradicating it. For McCarter lawyers and staff, this is a matter of conscience and an obligation at the heart of our professional and civic responsibilities. The Social Justice Project is led by a multidisciplinary, firmwide team working in close collaboration with our Pro Bono Committee and our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee. In addition, the firm has established the Social Justice Fellowship, a six month rotating attorney position.
The Social Justice Project’s efforts are tightly focused on economic justice and criminal justice reform. The work includes:
- Addressing racial disparities in the criminal justice system, including by working to mitigate the racially disproportionate impact of a criminal record, through close collaboration with community reintegration programs;
- Collaborating on work that strengthens communities of color, including by expanding the firm’s eviction defense practice, its community economic development efforts, and by addressing pervasive educational disparities.
- Continuing to educate the firm’s lawyers and staff to deepen our understanding of pervasive racial inequities in our country, and the consequences of those inequities.
Chaired by Simone Wilson-Brito, Moy Ogilvie, and Michelle Pallak, below is a list of the entire McCarter & English Social Justice Project team.
